Skylight mounting assembly of extruded aluminum sections

ABSTRACT

A MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR A SKYLIGHT CONSISTS OF A FIXED RECTANGULAR FRAME AND AN IDENTICAL MOVABLE FRAME HINGED TO THE FIXED FRAME. EACH FRAME CONSISTS OF FOUR SECTIONS OF THE SAME EXTRUDED SHAPE CONNECTED BY ANGLE FASTENERS AT THE CORNERS IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO DEFLECT RAIN WATER AWAY FROM THE OPENING COVERED BY THE SKYLIGHT AND TO MINIMIZE AIR FLOW THROUGH THE CLOSED SKYLIGHT. THE EXTRUDED SHAPE HAS TWO C-CHANNEL PORTIONS WHOSE WEBS EXTEND IN PARALLEL PLANES, AND AT LEAST ONE PLATE PORTION OBLIQUELY INCLINED RELATIVE TO THE PLANES OF THE WEBS AND INTEGRALLY CONNECTING RESPECTIVE FLANGES OF THE CHANNEL PORTION.

1971' P. E. E. J. BosAERf SKYLIGHT MOUNTING ASSEMBLY OF EXTRUDEDALUMINUM SECTIONS Filed Dec. 5. 1968 INVENTOR.

lfik HMANKL 6.3 BOGRW' United States Patent Int. 01. 1264a 13/035 U.S.Cl. 52-656 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mounting assembly for askylight consists of a fixed rectangular frame and an identical movableframe hinged to the fixed frame. Each frame consists of four sections ofthe same extruded shape connected by angle fasteners at the corners insuch a manner as to deflect rain water away from the opening covered bythe skylight and to minimize air flow through the closed skylight. Theextruded shape has two C-channel portions whose webs" extend in parallelplanes, and at least one plate portion obliquely inclined relative tothe planes of the webs and integrally connecting respective flanges ofthe channel portions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to roofing, moreparticularly to a mounting assembly for a skylight, and to an extrudedstructural element from which the assembly can be constructed.

The skylights with which this invention is concerned cover upwardlydirected openings in a roof, and it is common practice to provide theroof with a fixed frame I extending about the opening, and to providethe skylight with a frame which is hingedly or otherwise movably securedto the fixed frame in the closed condition of the skylight.

It is necessary to adapt the frames to the shape and size of the openingand of the skylight, and skylight frames had to be built speciallyheretofore for most buildings because skylights are not standardized.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a mountingassembly for a skylight including two frames which can be made up at theconstruction site from a single extruded aluminum shape by semi-skilledpersonnel using very simple hand tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The skylight mounting assembly of the inventionconsists of sections of an extruded, elongated. structural element ofuniform cross section held together bysimple fasteners. The element hastwo channel portions, each consisting of a web, a first flange, and asecond flange. The webs of the two channel portions extend in respectiveparallels planes, and the flanges of each channel portion extend fromthe associated web toward the plane of the other web. A plate portionwhich is obliquely inclined relative to the planes of the websintegrally connects the first flanges of the channel portions. Thesecond flanges are offset from the associated first flanges in a commondirection.'A second plate portion may be provided to connect the secondflanges.

A plurality of pairs of longitudinal sections of such an element areconnected by two sets of fasteners to form two identical polygonalframes, the fasteners engaging respective longitudinally terminalportions of each section. The two frames are superimposed in themounting assembly in such a manner that the second flanges of the upperframe are superimposed on the second flanges in the lower frame, whilethe first flange of each channel portion in each frame is spaced fromthe associated second flange in a direction away from the other frame.The webs of the upper and lower frames extend in parallel or coincidingplanes for each side of the polygon.

Other features, additional objects, and many of the attendant advantagesof this invention will readily be appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following description of preferredembodiments when considered in connection with the apended drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a skylight mounting assembly of the invention isfragmentary elevational section, portions of the skylight and of thesupporting roof being shown in broken lines;

FIG. 2 shows a modified skylight mounting assembly in fragmentaryelevational section; and

FIG. 3 illustrates one of the fastener elements used in the assembliesof FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing indetail, and initially to FIG. 1, there is seen a skylight mountingassembly 1 which connects a skylight 2 to a supporting roof 11. Themounting assembly consists of a fixed frame 3 which extends about anopening in the roof 11, and a movable frame 3' hinged to the fixed frame3 in a conventional manner, not shown, and having the skylight 2attached thereto.

Each of the frames 3, 3 consists of longitudinal sections of the sameextruded aluminum shape, the inherent- 1y uniform cross section of theextruded shape being seen in FIG. 1. It includes two approximatelyC-shaped channel portions 4, 5 whose webs extend in parallel, spaced,vertical planes. The flanges extend from the webs toward the plane ofthe other web, and have inturned I'lIIlS.

Referring more specifically to the extruded section which forms a sideof the fixed frame 3 seen in section in FIG. 1, the lower flanges of thechannel portions 4, 5 are integrally connected by a flat plate portion 6obliquely inclined relative to the vertical planes of the channel webs.Ribs 8, 9 project upwardly from the upper flanges of the two channelportions, and another rib 13 extends downwardly from the plate portion6. A fastening strip 3 obliquely downward in a direction horizontallyaway from the central opening in the superimposed frames, the channelportions in each frame section being vertically offset in such a mannerthat the channel portion near the frame opening is higher than thechannel portion of the same section remote from the frame opening.

The rib 8 on each frame section cooperates with the rib 9 on the otherframe section to obstruct a gap at the interface of the two frames, andthus to limit passage of air into and out of the building space coveredby the roof 11. The rib 13 on the lower fixed frame 3 projects towards asupporting face of the roof 11 to limit passage of air between the roofand the lower frame, a sealing strip 14 being retained between the plate6 portion of the lower frame 3 and the roof surface by the rib 13 and bythe lower flange of the channel portion 4.

The skylight 2 is attached to the upper, movable frame 3' in aconventional manner, not illustrated in detail, and the lower frame 3 isattached to the roof 11 by a clamp 12 which engages the strip 10.

It will be understood that the frames 3, 3 are rectangular, each side ofthe rectangle being as shown in FIG. 1. The sections of an extrudedaluminum element which constitute respective sides of each frame aremiter-cut to an angle of 45 at their ends so that they may be fastenedto each other by tubular angles 7 of aluminum of which one is shown inFIG. 7. Two angles 7 are provided at each corner of each frame, theirlegs engaging corresponding channel portions 4, of two angularly joinedframe sides, as is known in itself. The angles may be fastened in thejoined channel portions by friction only or by set screws, rivets, orplain pins, as is equally known in the construction of aluminum windowsand doors.

The extruded sections which constitute the frames 3, 3' are very rigidbecause of their cross sectional configuration. They can be cut to thedesired size in a miter box by means of a simple saw, and the cut piecescan be used practically without scrap loss because the sections areemployed in superimposed pairs whose ends are cut at opposite obliqueangles.

The two frames of the mounting assembly of the invention engage eachother quite tightly without gaskets or other resilient sealing elements.The single structural elements from which all sides of a frame and bothframes for an assembly may be cut, readily lend themselves to anodizingso as to minimize maintenance problems. A roofer needs to carry with himonly one or more lengths of the extruded aluminum shape and a set ofidentical fasteners to construct any rectangular skylight mountingassembly of the invention on the building site.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to askylight mounted on rectangular frames 3, 3, the frames may have threeor five sides or more, and only the non-illustrated miter box and thefastening angles 7 need to be modified to permit the assembling ofextrudate sections into any desired polygonal shape, regular orotherwise.

The plate portions 6, which slope obliquely in a direction outward ofthe skylight opening and downward at an angle of 35 -40 relative to ahorizontal plane, deflect rain Water away from the roof opening whilethe gap between the plate portion 6 of the fixed frame 3 and the roof 11permits the discharge of condensate from the skylight 2 through thesealing strip 14 if the latter is made of open-celled polyurethane foamor like material.

The mounting assembly partly shown in FIG. 2 differs from that describedwith reference to FIG. 1 by two parallel, obliquely inclined plateportions 6', 6 which connect respective flanges of channel portions 4',5' closely similar to the corresponding elements 4, 5 illustrated inFIG. 1. Whereas the hollow fixed frame 3 illustrated in FIG. 1 isupwardly open, and the cooperating hollow movable frame 3 is downwardlyopen, both frames of the assembly shown in FIG. 2 consist of closedtubular sections.

What is claimed is:

1. An extruded, elongated, unitary structural element of uniform crosssection comprising:

(a) two channel portions,

(1) each channel portion having a web, a first flange, and a secondflange,

(2) the webs of said channel portions respectively extending in twoparallel, spaced planes, and the flanges of each channel portionextending from the associated web toward the plane of the other web;

(b) a plate portion obliquely inclined to said planes and connecting thefirst flanges of said channel portions,

(3) the second flanges being offset from the associated first flanges ina common direction, and

(4) one of said channel portions being offset in said common directionfrom the other channel portion;

(c) an inturned rim on each flange directed toward the corresponding rimon the associated other flange; and

(d) a fastening strip projection from said other channel portionsubstantially in the plane of the associated web in a direction awayfrom said one channel portion.

2. An element as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a ribprojecting from each second flange away from the associated firstflange.

3. An element as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a ribprojecting from said plate portion in a direction away from said secondflanges.

4. An extruded, elongated, unitary structural element of uniform crosssection comprising:

(a) two channel portions,

(1) each channel portion having a web, a first flange, and a secondflange,

(2) the webs of said channel portions respectively extending in twoparallel, spaced planes, and the flanges of each channel portionextending from the associated web toward the plane of the other web;

(b) a plate portion obliquely inclined to said planes and connecting thefirst flanges of said channel portions,

(3) the second flanges being offset from the associated first flanges ina common direction, and

(c) another plate portion substantially parallel to said obliquelyinclined plate portion and connecting said second flanges of said twochannel portions.

5. An element as set forth in claim 4, further comprising an inturnedrim on each flange directed toward the corresponding rim on theassociated other flange.

6. An element as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a ribprojecting from each second flange away from the associated firstflange.

7. An element as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a ribprojecting from said plate portion in a direction away from said secondflanges.

8. A mounting assembly for a skylight comprising in combination:

(a) a plurality of pairs of longitudinal sections of an extruded,elongated, unitary structural element of uniform cross section includingtwo channel portions, each channel portion having a web, a first flange,and a second flange, the webs of said channel portions respectivelyextending in two parallel, spaced planes, and the flanges of eachchannel portion extending from the associated web toward the plane ofthe other web, and a plate portion obliquely inclined to said planes andconnecting the first flanges of said channel portions, the secondflanges being offset from the associated first flanges in a commondirection;

(b) first fastening means fastening longitudinally terminal portions ofrespective first members of said pairs to each other to form a firstpolygonal frame; and

(c) second fastening means fastening longitudinally terminal portions ofrespective second members of 5 said pairs to each other to form a secondpolygonal frame substantially identical with said first frame,

(1) said frames being superimposed on each other in such a manner thatthe second flanges of the second member of each pair are superimposed onthe second flanges of the first member of the pair, the first flanges ofeach member being spaced from the associated second flanges in adirection away from the other member of the pair, and the planes of theWebs in the first member being substantially parallel to the planes ofthe webs in the second member.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein the planes of the websof each first member of a pair substantially coincide with therespective planes of the webs in the associated second member.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 8, said frames defining respectiveopenings therein, the channel portions UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,399,5009/1968 Shapiro 52200X FOREIGN PATENTS 655,359 1/1965 Belgium 52200512,065 11/1930 Germany 52738 ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary Examiner US. Cl.X.R.

